Historical Memory Law and Retoponimization Processes in Spain

In Spain, the state has frequently used street names symbolically: after the Civil War, names associated with the Second Republic, as well as some earlier ones, were re-moved and replaced with those from the so-called Nationalist (or rebel) side. Many of these were later removed after Franco’s death; however, some had persisted through-out the democratic period. In 2007, a controversial national Historical Memory Law was passed, mandating the removal of street names that glorify Francoism. The aim of this study is to assess the intensity with which this law has been implemented and to examine potential regional differences. To this end, street name changes across Spain related to the Franco regime between 2001 and 2021 were analyzed, using the Electoral Census Street Directory as the primary data source. The law has led to the widespread removal of names associated with Francoism; however, its impact has not been uni-form across the country, with the highest number of changes occurring in inland provinces.